Building Disciples Up in Christ

 “Now if Timotheus come, see that he may be with you without fear: for he worketh the work of the Lord, as I also do. Let no man therefore despise him: but conduct him forth in peace, that he may come unto me: for I look for him with the brethren.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭16‬:‭10‬-‭11‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul’s instruction was, “When Timothy arrives, make sure that he feels at home while he’s with you, for he’s advancing the Lord’s work just as I am. Don’t let anyone disparage or look down on him, but kindly help him on his way with financial support so that he may come back to me, for I am waiting for him and the brothers to return.”  Paul was always building up his disciples especially Timothy whom he called as his son and colleague in ministry.  Paul said that Timothy was Rock-solid in faith, who reminded other disciples of Paul’s specific message and emphasis.  Paul’s specific message was the finished work of the Cross of Christ and he taught the ‘in Christ’ and ‘Christ is in you’ Gospel in every place and every church he visited.  Paul wanted everyone to respect Timothy, not to underrate him, but to honour him by providing for him.  Paul eagerly looked forward to welcoming Timothy and the team back again.  Paul recognised the personal love that Jesus had for him and received it with gratitude and humility, passing it on to his disciples who were actually Jesus’s disciples.  We can learn much from Paul to flow in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and to build others up to be strong disciples too.  Amen!

The Anointing of the Anointed One

 “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭61‬:‭1‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Isaiah prophesied, “The mighty Spirit of Lord YAHWEH is wrapped around Me because YAHWEH has anointed Me, as a messenger to preach good news to the poor. He sent Me to heal the wounds of the brokenhearted, to tell captives, “You are free,” and to tell prisoners, “Be free from your darkness.”  Messiah means the Anointed One in Hebrew and Christ in Greek.  Our Lord Jesus spoke these words at the start of His “jubilee” ministry to Israel.  This was to open the door of grace to the world and to proclaim the day of vengeance coming on sin, darkness, sickness and eventually the “goat” nations.  The Messiah came: as a Prophet to preach the new season of grace; as a Priest to heal; and as a King to decree and herald peace and freedom to the captives. As Dr. Luke recorded, “Jesus of Nazareth was anointed by God with the Holy Spirit and with great power. He did wonderful things for others and divinely healed all who were under the tyranny of the devil, for God had anointed Him.”  Let’s worship our Messiah.  Amen!

Christ’s Life in Us to Fulfil Christ’s Purpose

 “And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭15‬:‭45‬, ‭47‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul’s revelation, “For it is written: The first man, Adam, became a living soul. The last Adam became the life-giving Spirit. The first man was from the dust of the earth; the second Man is YAHWEH, from the realm of heaven.”  Paul powerfully explains that the Last Adam is Jesus Christ.  As the Last Adam, He ended Adam’s race and began a new species of humans who are indwelt by the Holy Spirit and carry the life of Christ within them.  In God’s eyes there are only two men, Adam and Christ.  Every human being is a copy of one or the other.  To be in Adam is to be lost and merely human, but to be in Christ is to be wrapped into the Anointed One as one who carries the Life of Christ within.  Just as Jesus now has an earthly body transformed into a spiritual body, so we will have our bodies transformed into heavenly bodies.  What a glorious future we have, as we fulfil our purpose here on earth with the Life of Christ within us.  Amen!

The Church Shines God’s Light to the Nations

 “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭60‬:‭1‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Isaiah prophesied, ““Rise up in splendor and be radiant, for your light has dawned, and YAHWEH’s glory now streams from you!”  Isaiah is calling upon the light of the new day to break forth.  All that Christ has done through the finished work of the Cross in believers, is designed to make us a mature Church for His pleasure, until we become a source of praise to Him—glorious and radiant, beautiful and holy, without fault or flaw.  Jesus is the Light that shines upon the Church, and the light of the Church shining upon the nations.  That’s what Jesus told us, “Your lives light up the world. For how can you hide a city that stands on a hilltop? And who would light a lamp and then hide it in an obscure place? Instead, it’s placed where everyone in the house can benefit from its light.”  This is God’s Light that has risen like a sunrise upon us - the Church - like a glorious New Day.  Now the Church has to shine God’s Light in us upon the nations.  May we do our part.  Amen!

God’s Purpose is to Build His Church

 “He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying. Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?”

1 Corinthians 14:4-6 KJV

‭‭Paul’s revelation, “The one who speaks in tongues advances his own spiritual progress, while the one who prophesies builds up the Church. I would be delighted if you all spoke in tongues, but I desire even more that you impart prophetic revelation to others. Greater gain comes through the one who prophesies than the one who speaks in tongues, unless there is interpretation so that it builds up the entire Church. Dear friends, what good is it if I come to you always speaking in tongues? But if I come with a clear revelation from God, or with insight, or with a prophecy, or with a clear teaching, I can enrich you.” The One Who speaks through us when speaking in tongues, is the Holy Spirit Who empowers us in our human frailty and weakness. Many times we don’t know how to pray, or know the best things to ask for. But the Holy Spirit rises up within us to super-intercede on our behalf, pleading to God with emotional sighs too deep for words.  The purpose of God through each individual is to build the Church.    That’s why each believer must have the personal and intimate experience with our Lord to know how He is leading us.  If we have the know-it-all attitude of condescension, we will be unfruitful.  Every congregation needs to focus on: the revelation of God; the insights of truth; the prophecy; the teaching and building up.  All these are necessary today for the Church to be built up and effective and the powerhouse that God wants it to be.  Amen!

God is For Us, None can Stand Against Us

 “So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭59‬:‭19‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Isaiah prophesied, “From the west to the lands of the rising sun, the glory and the Name of YAHWEH will be held in highest reverence, for He will break in as a flooding, rushing river driven on by the breath of YAHWEH!”  God breaks into the human condition as a Man Who died on the Cross.  His Blood, like a flood of righteousness, washes away the sins of those who believe in Him.  When the enemy comes in, the Spirit of Yahweh, His Breath, like a flood will put him to flight. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the enemy.  Jesus told us that He has given us His authority to trample over satan’s kingdom. We will trample upon every demon before us and overcome every power satan possesses. Absolutely nothing will harm us as we walk in this authority.  It is God Who fights our battles when we put our trust in Him. When God has determined to stand with us, who then could ever stand against us?  Amen!

The Demonstration of God’s Intense Love on the Cross

 “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭13‬:‭1‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul’s revelation, “If I were to speak with eloquence in earth’s many languages, and in the heavenly tongues of angels, yet I didn’t express myself with love, my words would be reduced to the hollow sound of nothing more than a clanging cymbal.”  There are more than seven thousand languages spoken in the world and the angels in heaven have a distinct language among themselves that is not known on earth!  Should we know many earthly languages and have no love, we’re just making a noise.  This love originates in God Who is Love, and it means a burning, fiery love that sets on fire.  It comes from the inner depths of the heart of the Eternal One.  This love energy is the active power of bonding hearts and lives in secure relationships.  This agapé love is of the highest form which God has for His people.  It is an intense affection that must be demonstrated.  It is a loyal, endless and unconditional commitment of love.  Feelings are attached to this love.  It is not abstract, but devoted to demonstrating the inward feelings of love toward another with acts of kindness and benevolence.  May we understand that the love of God which He wants us to be in is not just verbal but it is action too.  This is the love Jesus showed for all humanity on the Cross - not just words but in action too.  Amen!

The Responsibility of Believers in Christ on How to Reign

 “and if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noon day:”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭58‬:‭10‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Isaiah prophesied, “and if you offer yourselves in compassion for the hungry and relieve those in misery, then your dawning light will rise in the darkness and your gloom will turn into noonday splendor!”  Jesus offered Himself to us, so we should offer ourselves in compassion for others.  In the last days, God wants us to banish every form of oppression in our lives, churches and society.  God wants us to remove scornful accusation and criticism of others and their ministries, and forbids us to spread malicious slander.  God desires us to have compassion for the poor and disenfranchised and comfort those enduring suffering and tragedy.  Then God promises multiple blessings that will come - our influence and spiritual light will increase in our communities; discouragement and gloom will disappear from our lives; God will give us specific guidance and counsel to know what to do and where to go; He will fill us with renewing grace even when we are surrounded by difficult situations; our spiritual lives will flourish like a lush garden with fruit and beauty; we will not cease to be an ever-flowing source of blessing to others; we will be given God’s grace to rebuild lives and institutions in our cities, churches and nations; we will take up the legacy of our spiritual fathers and build on their foundations; we will have a testimony of healing cities; we will restore well-being in our communities.  May we flow in God’s glory to reign on earth.  Amen!

Christ’s Body on Earth

 “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭12‬:‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul’s revelation was, “Just as the human body is one, though it has many parts that together form one body, so too is Christ. For by one Spirit we all were immersed and mingled into one single body. And no matter our status—whether we are Jews or non-Jews, oppressed or free—we are all privileged to drink deeply of the same Holy Spirit.”  Christ is now a Body with many parts.  The Human Body of Jesus is glorified and enthroned in heaven.  So also the Body of Christ.  We are co-enthroned with Him but we continue to exist on earth to represent Him to the world.  We were baptised into the Body of Christ when we came into a personal relationship with Christ.  He gave us a new birth; He came to dwell in us; He places us as a member of Christ’s Body on the earth; He seals us as the possession of Christ until the redemption of our human body.  We drink deeply of the Holy Spirit and it is the same as receiving His power and gifts until rivers of Living Waters flow from the inside of us.  Amen!

Believers in Christ Inherit & Possess Mount Zion

 “When thou criest, let thy companies deliver thee; but the wind shall carry them all away; vanity shall take them: but he that putteth his trust in me shall possess the land, and shall inherit my holy mountain; and shall say, Cast ye up, cast ye up, prepare the way, take up the stumblingblock out of the way of my people. For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭57‬:‭13‬-‭15‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Isaiah prophesied, “Let’s see if your pantheon of idols can save you when you cry out! They will be blown away by the wind; merely a breath will carry them off! But whoever makes Me a hiding place will possess the land and inherit My holy mountain.” YAHWEH says, “Let the people return to Me.  Build! Build up the road, clear the way, and get it ready! Remove every obstacle from their path.” For this is what the high and majestic One says, the One Who fills the eternal realm with glory, Whose Name is Holy: “I dwell in high and holy places but also with the bruised and lowly in spirit, those who are humble and quick to repent. I dwell with them to revive the spirit of the humble, to revive the heart of those who are broken over their sin.”  This holy mountain is Mount Zion which the believer inherits today in the Kingdom of God.  This glory is the Shekinah which God fills eternity with.  This blessing comes to those who are humble and in whom  gentleness dwells and who inherit the earth and whose crooked path is made straight!  We have this Shekinah because we have believed in Jesus Who established a new covenant with His Blood sprinkled upon the mercy seat.  Amen!